High speed punch mechanism



Sept. 12, 1961 A. M. TAILLEUR 2,

HIGH SPEED PUNCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 26, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q1 0 10i 12 161W INVENITOH ANDRE M. TAILLEUR ATTORNEY Sept. 12, 1961 A. M.TAILLEUR HIGH SPEED PUNCH MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1958D U CL H M A FIG.3

United States Patent 2,999,632 HIGH SPEED PUNCH MECHANISM Andr MarcelTailleur, Paris, France, assignor to International Business MachinesCorporation, New York,

N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. '26, 1958, Ser. No. 783,053

Claims priority, application France Feb. 3, 1958 5 Claims. (Cl. 234-109)This invention relates to a high speed punch mechanism, and, inparticular, to a high speed punch for punching record cards for use inbusiness machines, which punch mechanism has a minimum amount of partsthat are subject to wear.

For purposes of this invention, it is intended that the term car be usedgenerically to cover cards, sheets or tape.

In present day business machines, for example, collators, Sorters, etc.,cards are used many times and ultimately become mutilated. Therefore,they must be reproduced. This is accomplished by passing a master cardthrough a reproducing machine and reading the information from thesecards back into a punch mechanism for punching the new card. Therapidity with which the punching is effected is limited by themechanical stresses on the punch element and stripping die, which cannotexceed the acceleration force limits without risking damage or prematurewear of the parts. The punch mechanism receives such a large shock athigh speeds during each cycle that it is becoming diificult to avoiddamage. The impact imparted from the cycling drive members onto aninterposer which then actuates the punch, creates large accelerationforces which becomes incompatible with the increase in demand of higherspeeds for punching record cards.

This invention is primarily aimed at a new quick selective punchingdevice for punching record cards such as those daily used in statisticaland accounting business machines, wherein no impact forces aretransmitted to the punch from the driving member, thereby presenting nolimiting acceleration or impact force on the parts and no otherwear-other than that of the punching element and die itself.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new punching devicewherein the punch element itself is constantly oscillating at its ownsustained frequency, and when a signal is received during one of theoscillations, the punch element is urged towards the record card to bepunched, which occurs during the downward move ment caused by the normaloscillation.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an oscillatingelement for use in punching record cards, which punch element is notactuated by a mechanical interposer, or the like, but relies upon anelectrical interposing means for energizing the punch element to punchthe record card.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a new punchwhich is more reliable, less cumbersome, and less expensive than themechanical punch mech anisms and still capable of obtaining identicalresults.

Briefly stated and in accordance with one aspect of this inventiomfIprovide a card punching mechanism in which the punch element constantlyvibrates without contact with the cards and is at its own frequencysustrained under the control of magnets, which when selected in responseto an appropriate signal, amplifies one of the downward movingoscillations of the vibrating punch element to increase the amplitude soas to produce a perforation in the card to be punched.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of ICC example, the principle of the inventionand the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying thatprinciple.

' In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a punch and die arrangement in accordance with myinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a series of punches as viewed from beneath the punch ratherthan in an elevation, which are adapted to punch in parallel so as togang punch when desirable. v s FIG. 3 diagrammatically represents themovement of the record card, and movements of the punch element withrespect to a fixed die and also the card.

FIG. 4 is an electrical diagram for energizing the magnets to operatethe punch element.

l IG. 5 is a schematic view showing a means for vibrating the punchelement at its natural frequency.

Referring to FIG. 1, a record card 10 is shown being fed by feed rolls12 and 14. In accordance with prior practice, the feed rolls are drivenintermittently through the use of a Geneva or cam mechanism (not shown)so that the selective perforation of the cards can occur when the cardsare at zero velocity. A punching die is shown at 16 provided with amating opening 18 through which a punch element 20 can enter so as toperforate the card 10. A stripper die is shown at 22 which not only actsas the guide for the punch 20 but also strips the card from the punchwhen the punch is on its return stroke after having perforated the card.

The punch element 20 terminates into a main body portion 24 and has oneof its ends 26 cantilevered in a rigid fixed support 28. This permitsthe punch element and punch body to vibrate in response to its naturalfrequency. The other end of the punch is provided with a freely movingarmature portion 30 which is adapted to freely move within the gaps of amagnet generally designated as 32. The magnet 32 comprises a yoke 34Withthree legs 36, 38 and 40. The legs 36 and 40 are provided with coils42 and 44. The magnet 32 controls the movement as concerns the amplitudeand phase of the punchelement 20 which has an inertia mass and which ismaintained fixed at its end 26 so as to vibrate at its own frequency.

The intermittent advance of the cards 10 through the feed rolls 12 and14 is so designed by use of its Geneva cam or cams to occur at thefrequency of the current flowing through the coils 42 and 44. Thecurrent flowing through the coils -42 and 44 insures the synchronismbetween the movement of the punch element and the feeding of the cards.The intermittent feeding of feed rolls 12 and 14 can be provided with anelectrical circuit in synchronized response to the frequency of thecoils 42 and 44. The electrical circuit could energize a motor fordriving a Geneva cam which in turn intermittently drives the feed rolls12 and 14.

Whenevercard 10 stops at the punching station, the frequency of thepunch element is synchronized with the coils 42 and 44 so that it is atits lower position during this instant. Thereafter, while the card isstill in its punching station at a stopped position, the punch movesupward as'a result of its natural frequency and timed relation with thecoils 42 and 44. If perforation is to be effected during the time thatthe card is still in its stationary position at the punch station, coil44 is energized when the punch reaches its higher position by a strongcurrent so as to pull the armature 30 and the punch element 20 down toits lowest point by a circuit arrangement preferably comprising athyratron and arranged to provide a low response time.

Such an arrangement may take the form shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.4, where areproducing punch arrangement is shown merely as an example of how theinvention may be carried out. For this purpose, amaster card or cardthat contains information which is to be punched into the card It isshown at 50. The feed rolls 52 and 54 are also synchronized in the samemanner as feed rolls 12 and 14 so as to intermittently drive thecard 50past the reading station while the same point on card is intermittentlypassing the punch station. The reading station comprises reading brushm56 as a sensing means and contact roll 58 so as to deliver a pulse tothe hub at 60. Referring now to FIG. 4, a generator is shown at 62connected to the coils 42 and 44 which is set to match the naturalfrequency of the punch 20. Now, when the pulse is received at the hub 60from the sensing brushes 56 reading a hole in the card 50 which is to bereproduced in the card 10, the pulse is transmitted to the thyratron 64-which energizes the coil 66 of a magnet which extends about the core leg40. The pulse received from the sensing brushes 56 is timed so that itis received when the punch element is at its high position. Therefore,when the coil 66 receives the pulse from the hub 60, the vibratingarmature 30 will be pulled downwardly due to the additional current inthe coil 66.

The coil 66 is energized during half a period to accelerate punchelement 20 to move to its lower than normal low point so as to perforatethe card. The card 10 is punched when it is at the punch station andduring the interval when it is under the punch 20, which punching occursat a result of the inertia during the downward movement of the punch 20supplemented by the action of the magnet 32.

Punch 20 then returns to its normal high position due to the naturalfrequency of the cantilevered arm 26, and due to the attraction force ofmagnet 32 caused by the coil 42 and opposite to that produced previouslyby the coil 44. This makes for an eventual slight phase shift.

In the event that a self-synchronous system is desired, such anarrangement can be provided as shown in FIG. 5. in the arrangementshown, it is not necessary to match the natural frequency of the punchwith the frequency of the generator. Again, this is merely intended asan example of a self-synchronous system. It is recognized that othersimilar arrangements could also be used. In the self-synchronous system,a circuit breaker is shown at 70 which provides an on and offarrangement for operating the coils 42 and 44 of the magnet 32. In thisarrangement, the normal position would be one where one of the fixedcontacts is in engagement with the movable contact 71. For example,contact 72 is shown in this condition. Therefore, when current issupplied, a circuit is closed to energize the coil 44 so as to pull thearmature 3t) and punch 20 down. This starts the punch element 20operating at its natural frequency. Therefore, when the punch element 20and insulated operating member '74 move down, the contact at 72 isbroken and contact is then made with fixed contact 73. Therefore, whenthe punch element 20 reaches its hottom-most position, another circuitis made with the coil 42 which then tends to pull the armature 30upwardly. Repeated cycles of operation are then continued in the mannerdescribd above. When it is desired to punch the record card 10, asexplained in connection with FIG. 1, the operation is the same asdescribed in connection with FIG. 4, in that a signal or pulse receivedat hub 60 energizes the thyratron 64 to energize the magnet coil 66 sothat the magnet 32 and coil 66 actuatcs or attracts the armature 3t)soas to pull the punch down 20 sufiiciently to perforate the card Iii.The thyratron circuits of FIGS. 4 and 5, when energized by directcurrent, will of course require suitable quenching means, not shown,which will extinguish the thyratron after each operation. On the otherhand, no such means is required for alternating current operation.

FIG. 2 shows several punches, such as those shown in FIG. 1, disposed inalternate rows to minimize the area taken up by the punches. Also, it isobvious that other arrangements of these punch devices such as thatrepresented in FIG. 1 would also be within the scope of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 3, curve A represents the variations in card speedrelative to time, the speed values being along the ordinate axis and thetime values along the abscissa axis. Curve B shows the movement of punchelement 20 vibrating at its own frequency with relation to a fixedreference such as the top of the die 16. The top of the die isrepresented by the line C, which is parallel to the abscissa axis.

Dotted curve D shows the movement of punch element 20 during aperforation operation. Perforation takes place at the point where thedotted curve D crosses line C. I

In curves B, C and D, the amplitude of the movements are measured alongthe ordinate. The time duration of the movements are measured along theabscissa.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferredembodiment, it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes in the form and details of the deviceillustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in theart, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is theintention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope ofthe following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A punch mechanism for perforating business cards comprising apunching die, a punch element cantilevered in a support, which punchelement is adapted to cooperate with the punch die to perforate a cardplaced therebetween, a magnet co-operating with the punch element tovibrate the punch at its natural frequency, the magnet being in resonantrelationship with the natural frequency of the punch element whichprovides a means for constantly vibrating the punch without contact withthe cards, means for energizing the magnet to amplify one of theoscillations on its downward movement so that the punch extends belowthe punching die to thereby perforate the card.

2. A punching arrangement of the character described, comprising a punchstation, a vibrating cantilevered punch element, means for vibrating thepunch element, means for moving a card through the punch station, thefrequency of the vibrations being in timed relation with the movement ofthe card passing through the punch station, and means acting on thepunch element for increasing the amplitude of one of the vibrations soas to cause the punch element to perforate the card.

3. In a punching arrangement having a punch station, the combination ofmeans for intermittently feeding a card through the punch station so asto have a dwell period, a punch element for perforating the cardnormally oscillating according to its natural frequency, a magnet foroscillating the punch at an amplitude according to its naturalfrequency, the oscillations and the operation of the magnet being insynchronization with the operation of the intermittent feeding means, ameans for sending a signal to a magnet when the punch is in its upwardlyposition, so as to pull the punch down through a larger amplitude sothat the punch perforates a card during the dwell period of theintermittent motion.

4. A mechanism for marking an element, comprising an oscillatablemarking member cantilevered in a support, magnet means oscillating themember at a preselected frequency and normally within an amplitude atwhich it is ineffective to contact the element, and means responsive toa signal to augment the normal action of said magnet means forincreasing the amplitude of such oscillation to cause the member to markthe element.

5. A mechanism for marking an element, comprising an oscillatablemarking member cantilevered in a support, means for moving the elementrelative to said member in increments separated by stationary dwellperiods, magnet 5 means oscillating the member at a preselectedfrequency and normally within an amplitude at which it is inefiective tocontact the element, means responsive to a Signal to augment the normalaction of said magnet means for increasing the amplitude of suchoscillation to cause the member to mark the element, and meanssynchronizing the operation of the element-moving means and magnet meansand signal-responsive means to cause the increased amplitude to beefiected only during one of the dwell periods.

References Cited in the file of this patent

